Want to get the perfect zoo? It may seem hard but it actually comes in a few easy steps!

Steps

1

Build several exhibits and put inexpensive animals in it. Put one of each gender in (one male and two females if you have Endangered Species DLC) so they will breed and replace the ones that die.

2

Build donation boxes, about one for each exhibit. Donation Boxes help earn more money for your zoo. You can find them under scenery.

3

Get several guests going into your zoo and then build a food court with two food stands, two drink stands, two dessert carts and a few benches and trash cans. Put a restroom nearby too. Maybe put in a gift stand, and after a while, upgrade to a shop, more stands, and maybe even a restaurant.

4

Wait a few (game) months to get money.

5

People should be eating, drinking, and viewing animals by now, not to mention donating. Donations increase for a short time after guests use the Discovery Kiosk so add one as soon as you can. Guest amusement increases when they see arches, fountains and statues so add these strategically.

6

Continue building like this. When you get enough fame stars and your guests' entertainment bars are low, build a music rock or other entertainment needs. Kids like playground areas, for instance.

7

Make gardening, and scenic things too. It's aesthetically pleasing to many guests. If you wait long enough and plan your moves right, you should be a zoo tycoon!

Video.

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Tips

Guests like exhibits with multiple species in there. They really like baby animals, too.

Keep the animals happy because guests like to see happy animals.

Check your stores and stands to make sure they are actually making money. If after profit, the numbers are in parenthesis like this ($40) etc, then that means it has lost money. You should either raise, or lower the prices, or sell the building.

Try to use a large zoo map so you have plenty of space.

Have enough species to get your fame up.

When animals breed, it's best to sell the oldest animal of the same gender. That way, you will get money off of the older animals before they die of old age. And, the babies will grow up and mate, with the previous mates.

If you are using freeform mode in Zoo Tycoon 2, you have unlimited money. This means you don't have to be careful with funds.

Plan with your budget in mind. Keep enough money on hand for unexpected expenses, but spend enough to reach your goal. Of course, if you're playing in sandbox mode, you won't have this problem.

If you have Extinct Animals buy an Extinct Animals Centre ($8000) as soon as possible. Once you have collected all the fossil pieces of any species you can create dinos for free instead of buying them from the adoption panel!

Warnings

Keep predators and prey away from each other to avoid confrontation. Guests don't like seeing animals eat each other.

Keep in mind the size of the zoo.

Don't overspend your money, unless you are using freeform mode.

If an animal gets out of its exhibit, crate it, pick up the crate and drop it in the animal's exhibit, and take the crate off the animal.